Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Madison, MS?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 57.1% of gross income.

Madison rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Mississippi state estimate).

Madison median rent
$2,422/mo
Firefighter salary (Mississippi)
$50,876/yr
Rent as % of income
57.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,240, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,272/mo in rent. Madison's median rent of $2,422 exceeds that threshold by $1,150/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 99 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a firefighter salary

Firefighter base pay plus typical overtime sits modestly above the US median household income, but local rent levels determine whether that translates into affordability or rent burden. At the national-average firefighter base salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,570 a month in rent. The per-city pages compare local rent against local firefighter-pay estimates so renters can see where rent stays in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Mississippi cities have lower median rent than Madison, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Oxford, MS
$2,376/mo (56% of income)
Oxford, MS
$2,304/mo (54.3% of income)
Hernando, MS
$2,261/mo (53.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Madison

View full rent data for Madison, MS

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Madison, MS?

Median rent in Madison is $2,422 a month. A typical firefighter in Mississippi earns about $50,876 a year, which makes that rent 57.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Madison?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Mississippi (~$50,876/yr) supports up to $1,272 a month in rent. Madison's current median rent is $2,422/mo, which is $1,150/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Madison?

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a firefighter in Mississippi works roughly 99 hours a month to cover Madison's median rent of $2,422.

Where is rent cheaper than Madison for a firefighter?

Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Oxford ($2,376/mo), Oxford ($2,304/mo), Hernando ($2,261/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Mississippi state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Madison, MS. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.